Metro - Entertainment

US – Saturday, November 7

The week's releases

Metro staff reviews the latest CDs, DVDs and books for your reading pleasure.

Even foodies cannot resist

After the success of their limited-edition run last year, Pepperidge Farm is bringing back the Australian cookie Tim Tam. Each year from October through March, the decadent chocolate treats will be another tempting option on grocery shelves. “Top Chef” judge and Pepperidge Farm spokeswoman Gail Simmons is stocking up.

We want to believe

REVIEW. These days, the vampires are hot, the zombies are funny and if you’ve lived in this city long enough, the weirdos don’t bother you. But even the skeptic has to admit that there are a lot of dark, creepy corners in the universe that could be harboring aggressive ETs.

Author or lab rat? He’s got both covered

A.J. Jacobs has done some difficult things in the name of research. For his 2004 book “The Know it All,” he read all 33,000 pages of the “Encyclopedia Britannica.” Then for 2007’s “The Year of Living Biblically,” he spent 365 days adhering to scripture. Even so, he wasn’t prepared for the month he had to practice Radical Honesty for his latest, “The Guinea Pig Diaries.”

A ‘Dynasty’ built entirely of snow

Over the past 60 years the folks of Warren Miller Entertainment have been the main source for a glimpse into the world of winter action sports. Miller’s work culminates with “Dynasty,” a world tour film presentation exploring the latest and greatest in skiing and snowboarding through his unique cinematography and the athletes’ stories.

A ‘Carol’ that hits some high notes

REVIEW. There is something creepy about the way Robert Zemeckis makes movies. In his last three films — first “The Polar Express,” then “Beowulf,” and now “A Christmas Carol”— the director has employed a hybrid method that crosses live action with animation. He no doubt thinks the work is pioneering, but “pioneering” usually has a positive connotation.

Movies

Bah humbug: Jim Carrey is a Scrooge

Jim Carrey insists he is the perfect actor to portray Ebenezer Scrooge in Robert Zemeckis’ new 3-D animation version of “A Christmas Carol” because he and the famous character have so much in common. “I hate Christmas,” he insists. “I’m the only one in Hollywood who hates it.”

Movies

This is a ‘Precious’ piece of cinema

REVIEW. Believe everything you hear about this movie — it will probably be the only time this season that the hype surrounding Oscar bait will be totally deserved.

The Word

A wee little way to try to get famous

There are hundreds of ways to get your name in the paper: appear on reality TV, get knocked up by a reality star, film yourself while getting knocked up by a reality star ... the list is endless. But here’s a new one: A model named Yvette Monet has put a restraining order on ex-boyfriend Verne Troyer, according to RadarOnline.

Television

Late-night’s changing face

David Letterman. Jay Leno. Conan O’Brien. Jimmy Fallon. Craig Ferguson. Jimmy Kimmel. All funny. All men. All straight. And all white.

Photo: © 2009 WESTGATE FILMS SERVICES LLCCan’t help fawning over eyes of ‘Goats’

REVIEW. Most women (and probably more than a handful of men) would kill to stare into George Clooney’s eyes for a night. But you know what’s even better? Staring into his crazy, bug eyes —which you get to do quite readily in the highly entertaining “The Men Who Stare at Goats.”

Music

Get to know … Melanie Fiona

Since you’re probably listening to Melanie Fiona’s album “The Bridge” on repeat, here are some things you should know about the songstress: 1. She’s a hopeless romantic: “I’d love to fall in love every day,” coos Fiona. 2. She opened for the European leg of Kanye West’s Glow In the Dark tour — and they got to hang out: “One night we were having dinner, and he took me and my manager on a tour of Paris at night!” 3. She’s a lady that goes for what she wants, like making sure a show with singer Ryan Leslie would happen: “I knew I wanted to work with him and told my label,” says Fiona.

Movies

A ‘suspenseful premise,’ indeed

A man with a rotting face gives a couple a box that has the ability to gift them a million dollars, but it also kills somebody somewhere in the world. If that sounds like the perfect premise for the director of “Donnie Darko,” that’s because it is.

New York Going Out

Chef enjoys foie gras freedom

This fall, Upper East Side mainstay davidburke & donatella (the flagship restaurant of restaurateur David Burke) had a bit of a foodie metamorphosis. Not only was the restaurant renamed David Burke Townhouse, but it also went through a redesign — complete with a revamping of the dining room and bar, as well as the menu. Although, as this week’s Hot Chef, the French-born executive chef of the restaurant, Sylvain Delpique, says: “Many of David’s signature menu items are still on it.”

Philly Arts

A breath of fresh air in new gallery

In the abstract art world, Jason Hackenwerth has a blockbuster on his hands. His massive balloon sculptures have been in high demand since 2004, and like an indie rocker with an unexpected hit, he now spends much of his time in airplanes and hotels, en route to his next installation. “I guess it’s because it’s so colorful and unusual,” says Hackenwerth. “Kids love it. Anyone can love it. You don’t need an art degree to appreciate it.”

T Time: Week of November 6th, 2009

Where to go and what to do!

The November MMMpod features interviews and music with a band called Girls, a band of girls called Supercute, and a supercute vampire. Yes, listeners, we have Pattinson!